Abstract

Study objectives: To measure the prevalence of
exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) and to determine its effect on
the physical performance response to training in otherwise
healthy young adults.

Design: Observational,
retrospective study.

Setting: Fort Jackson, SC, May to
July 1998.

Participants: One hundred thirty-seven
ethnically diverse US Army recruits undergoing an 8-week Army basic
training course.

Measurements and results: Subjects
underwent exercise challenge testing at the end of basic training to
evaluate for EIB (defined as a decrease in FEV1 of≥
15%, 1 or 10 min after running to peak oxygen uptake on a
treadmill). Those subjects who were unable to run to peak oxygen
uptake, or who were unable to perform two baseline FEV1
maneuvers the results of which were within 5% of each other, were
excluded from analysis. We measured peak oxygen uptake on a treadmill
and the scores achieved on the components of the US Army physical
fitness test (APFT). Of 137 subjects, 121 (58 men and 63 women) met our
inclusion criteria. Eight subjects (7%) had EIB. Subjects who
experienced EIB and unaffected control subjects both showed
statistically significant gains in performance on the APFT events
during basic training. At the end of basic training, peak oxygen uptake
levels and APFT event scores were not significantly different between
subjects with EIB and unaffected control subjects.

Conclusions: Seven percent of the US Army recruits who were
tested had EIB, but this did not hinder their physical performance
gains during basic training. EIB per se should not be an
absolute reason to exclude individuals from employment in jobs with
heavy physical demands.

Return to: The Prevalence of Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Among US Army Recruits and Its Effects on Physical Performance*

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